ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ARTS AND CRAFTS

OUR IMPACT

Since 2007, Eco Africa Social Ventures has been empowering hundreds of previously unemployed and unskilled women with income-generating crafting skills. Our work, however, goes beyond skills training – we not only empower communities to form self-sustaining crafting enterprises, but we also lay the groundwork to improve their overall quality of life.MORE

MEET THE ARTISANS

They smile and laugh for the camera but the challenges they face outside of their work-day are beyond what most can ever imagine. Most relatives are unemployed so it is upon the one who earns to feed and clothe the rest. They are heroes! Learn the stories of some artisans whose lives Eco Africa has touched. These are the faces of an Africa you can help us change for the better.MORE

SEE THEIR PRODUCTS

Zimbabwe is acclaimed throughout Africa and the world for its artistry and fine crafts, including stone sculpting, wire and bead art, and wood carving. Eco Africa Social Ventures is fully committed to connecting the crafting communities it supports with buyers and supporters worldwide. Take a look at some of the products made by the artisans we support! MORE

If you are looking at a time alone, or time with your family and you have nothing to do, consider a hobby. One of the best hobbies try is arts and crafts. Not only is arts and crafts easy to start on, they are also fun. If you are not sure where to begin, read on for some tips to get going.

If you’ve got a family that loves face painting, try using a q-tip as your brush of choice. The cotton end of a q-tip makes for an excellent brush to paint on a face with. It’s soft and very controllable. You can create great looking cat whiskers and all sorts of funky designs!

If you are into arts and crafts projects, make sure that you set aside some materials for yourself before allowing your children to have free rein. Parents who love crafts are very likely to micromanage what their children do. This likelihood is reduced if you know you will be doing a project of your own later.

Find ways to share your crafting skill with others. Teaching your children how to join you in doing a craft is a great way to pass down your special skill. It is also a great way to spend time with your family and to make memories that will last a lifetime.

To get your kids ready for some fun watercolor time at the kitchen table, put down a layer of newspaper or a plastic tablecloth first. This protects your kitchen table and lets your kids’ creativity go wild, and you’re not stressing out about paint staining the table for years to come.

Do what you can to make a craft work with what you already have at home. This isn’t always possible, but you should try it. It’s usually not worth running to the store to obtain the perfect paper, detail, trim, etc. You can diminish your enthusiasm for the project when you have to break to run errands.

Don’t forget to take care of your face when doing arts and crafts. Have a pair of safety goggles and even a filter breathing mask available. You never know when you’ll hit a project step that involves things you don’t to inhale or have in your eyes. Always protect yourself.

Do not make the mistake of only looking in art supply stores for all of the materials you might need. Places like discount and factory closeout stores are great places to find materials at low prices. You may not be able to find everything you need, but you may find a lot of the basics there.

Try to find ways to include recycled items into your crafting skills. Quilters may use discarded clothing to make quilting squares. Painters may find old frames that can be restored. There is an entire world of items that are about to be discarded that can be recycled into a beautiful new work of art.

As stated above, if you are looking at the time on your hands and you need something to do, try a new hobby. Arts and crafts are simple to start, and you probably have all you need to start a project already at home. Use the tips you got here and start a new craft today.

RECENT POSTS

The first thing that comes to your mind when you think about DIY mosaic ideas, is glass, frame, tabletop and flowerpot decorations. But if you are looking for something that is unique and impressive, take a look at these 3 DIY projects that can inspire your inner creativity.

Tile Your Bathtub Just Like Your Bathroom

Yes, you read it right. Though mosaic tile in the bathroom is old-school, you can think of it as a different approach from the modern, boring bathtubs. Tiling your bathtub can be both aesthetical and practical. Laying your tub with gorgeous mosaic tiles will not only create a great focal point in the interior of your bathroom but will also add a unique touch to your plumbing fixtures. In addition, it is also a smart idea when hiding cracks on the outer surface, you can just hide all the flaws under pretty mosaic tiles. It is a perfect choice as a decoration of curved surfaces, while the multiple design choices allow you to choose any colors, patterns, and shapes in accordance with the general interior concept of the bathroom.

Wall Combinations

Again, we bet you’re thinking of something boring like tiles in the walls of your kitchen and bathroom. But who said that mosaic tile is only suitable for wet areas? In fact, various tile designers develop different collections for tiling living rooms and bedrooms, but if you want to go extra, you can combine mosaic and paint or any decorative plaster to create an extraordinary design with a personal touch. Make stunning accent on your living room walls or bedroom by coming up with fascinating mosaic pattern and matching several finish types. Since we are speaking about DIY and if you have a little finishing work skills, choose a minimalist design to make the project a lot easier.

Fresh Idea for Garden Design

You just can’t forget garden design when thinking about mosaic ideas, since it is often used in garden projects! If you have already tiled almost all of your garden, flower beds, pools, paths, and garden furniture, then it is the time to think of decorating the birdhouses! We really are not sure if birds prefer living in a gorgeous mosaic house, but we have no doubt that using mosaic can create an outstanding art object. And it would be really fun to make a birdhouse together with your kids, not to mention you will show them how to take care of all living creatures, big or small, as well as this will develop the artistic side of your children.

When you’re a first timer doing DIY projects, it is always hard, tricky and sometimes confusing. While the best way to learn is through directly doing the task, these top seven tips and tricks will definitely help you make things a bit easier.

1. Safety Precautions

It is better to be safe than sorry. Safety precautions should always be the top things to keep in mind when doing any DIY projects because big or small mistakes can cost you dearly. At the very least, you should always wear a pair of safety gloves and goggles for protection.

2. Note Down Measurements

Not being organized will result in confusion – not able to recognize which is which, especially if you’re doing a big project. The little trick is to use masking tape for noting down measurements and sticking it on or near the object you are measuring.

3. Removing Screws

Removing rusted old screws can be really hard when you’re redecorating or rebuilding something, but you can loosen it up by applying heat. Using a soldering iron will do the trick!

4. Removing Old Paint from Brushes

Unless you’re buying new brushes for every new project, you will need to clean your brushes. To remove old, hard paint from your paint brushes you need to boil the bristles in white vinegar.

5. Magnetize Your Screwdriver

Take a screwdriver and rub it only in one direction on a magnet, the same way on how you would sharpen your knife on a sharpening stone. This method will help solve the problem of dropping or losing screws.

6. Avoid Plaster Lumps

The most important rule with plaster is to add plaster to the water and not the other way around. If you did add water, then be prepared to deal with a whole lot of lumps.

7. Make a Checklist

Last but definitely not the least, make a checklist of everything you will need and the things you need to do. Write down all the things you need first, make sure that you have all them ready and available before you start, and write down all the steps you needed to do. Write a check mark after doing each step so that you will not get lost in the middle of your work.

We have now come to the end of our top 7 DIY tips and tricks for beginners but you can also find many more great articles on various sites. As we have mentioned before, nothing can replace hands-on experience, but hopefully, this awesome tips will make sure life as a handyman easier.

Perhaps you have noticed how children can make anything they wish to? A rod becomes a shiny sword, a tree that a ferocious monster, or a towel per royal cape.

Children are not bored when they’re left using their creativity. Actually, imaginative play is a vital element of our advancement.

Somewhere along the way to maturity, we overlook this. We believe there’s frequently little time in our own lives for creativity, especially creativity for creativity’s sake alone. For a lot of us, this can be a considerably underused skill.

Like good art, the fantastic life is ingenious. Imagination isn’t merely a characteristic of this arty.

In life, there are so a lot more possibilities available than we choose, and we open up the door to them once we use our creativity.

Imagination makes it possible to express yourself, resolve problems, produce, find inspiration, and foster hope. This contributes to some far more enriched life.

All you will need is the own mind. Consider watching people and creating stories about where they’re going. Daydream about a made-up planet, much as you could have done as a kid. Measure outside, shut your eyes, and listen because you envision the scenery around you.

Do not be afraid to generate a mess.

Doing something new may sometimes make a mess, however, when we’re fearful of this mess we may not even attempt. Nothing stifles creativity and expansion over the fear of errors. Do not be reluctant to generate a small mess because you find out a new skill or make a shift.

Mistakes and failure really help you advance. In reality, lots of mistakes or missteps could be blessings in disguise. When you see mistakes not just within this procedure but an even portion of the last solution, there’s actually no need to worry or prevent them.

Color outside of those lines.

Sometimes, to locate your truest and fullest manifestation of your self, you have to have a bold step past the boundaries that you have been residing inside. You want to do things your own way.

Doing things your own way does not mean being obstinate, egotistical, or uncooperative.

Coloring outside of these lines does not mean abandoning your values, either. To the contrary, it signifies really living by your own values rather than those of somebody else.

Coloring outside of these traces means giving yourself permission to be imperfect because you attempt things a new manner. This means seeking authenticity as opposed to safety. If you approach life in this manner, you’re living harmoniously and advancing that which you really are.

Appreciate the beauty of every day.

Life resembles a collage of regular moments, everyday things, and familiar faces, dotted with surprises, achievements, and special occasions. We could be quite great about enjoying the special times in life, but frequently don’t pay much attention to that which sounds trivial.

Regular moments and items can be powerfully amazing when we really pay attention. Utilize the attractiveness of everyday life as an inspiration to your own life’s masterpiece. Search out it in unexpected areas. Dare yourself to find amazement and gratitude for even life’s most mundane conditions.

Feeling uninspired can sometimes result in inaction, but much more often, stagnation is the thing that leaves us uninspired.

It’s appealing to watch for the perfect chance, or until you’re sure prior to taking action, but neither time nor inspiration waits. As an artist retains producing, you need to keep moving.

The timing might never be perfect to behave in an idea or make a shift, however, you are still able to do something. Even if you aren’t sure where you’re headed or what the final product will look like, you may still continue.

If you’re feeling stuck where you’re, step one can be little. It is even okay when it seems uninspired or unoriginal as you start.

There are a lot of ways that each of us might find inspiration, however, all of them share the frequent feature of taking a step toward action. Experimentation and collaboration may also assist.

Whatever it’s that you decide to do, just keep moving.

We attempt to iron out all of the wrinkles, combine every color, or smooth each tough patch, and we betray ourselves in the procedure.

As in art, once we plan for self-expression instead of perfection in life, we make something so much deeper and total. Living does not have to be so quite precise or perfect.

It’s by way of self-expression although not perfection which we develop depth and character, and it’s by expressing ourselves which we make meaning in our own lives–arty or not.

Tissue paper is likely one of the commonest gadgets that we use at the residence for wrapping items, wiping and so forth. Though there are quite a few makes use of for this tender paper, it will also be used to make numerous craft tasks for teenagers. Personalized items reminiscent of flowers, bushes, pumpkins and so forth may be made with this paper fairly simply. The majority of the artists selected to make use of tissue as it may be simply minimized and designed into completely different elegant and exquisite sizes and styles. Furthermore, there are various kinds of merchandise made accessible quite simply today.

Frequent Advantages:

It is usually one of many most secure artwork medium which can be utilized by youngsters because it doesn’t embrace sharp edges or poisonous supplies. There are giant packages of this paper which may be purchased from online shops as it may be used for numerous craft concepts.

It’s fairly popularly utilized by youngsters as it may be torn aside simply with out using scissors and sharp blades. There are brilliant colored papers which may be dealt with simply by small youngsters too. Flowers are among the many hottest kinds of crafts made by youngsters since it’s simple to make.

Craft Initiatives:

These flowers may be gifted or hung within the rooms. To make flowers with this tender paper, take a chunk of the paper and crush it into the form of a fan. Maintain it within the middle and use a hair clip or some other materials to tie it within the middle. Now fan out the paper and enlarge it to make a ravishing flower.

Spherically formed petals will also be made with using scissors by reducing the paper earlier than it’s pinned within the middle and fanned out. This concept may help to make completely different shapes fairly simple. Easter eggs will also be made fairly simply with using these papers as it may be used to stay small items of colorful paper straight onto the eggs.

Customized made candles will also be made with using this tender paper in an intelligent method. Printed paper may be caught to the candles to boost its look. It is usually alleged to be an excellent reward merchandise throughout Christmas and New Yr.

Tissue papers will also be used to create Halloween paper craft tasks. As these papers can be found in several colors, it may be used to make bats, ghosts, pumpkins and so forth for Halloween. Black colored papers can be utilized to make bats whereas white colored papers are perfect for craft tasks that embrace globins and ghosts. Small pumpkins may be lined with this tender paper to create a spooky pumpkin.

Youngsters take pleasure in utilizing this tender paper for craft tasks as it’s pliable and simple to work with. There’s hardly any want to chop these papers with scissors.

Tissue papers can be found in an enormous assortment of sizes, shapes, and colors for numerous functions. It is usually simple to purchase these papers from online shops at reasonably priced worth charges.

Folks, no less than as soon as of their life, take into consideration what it could really feel prefer to make one thing distinctive and created from the center. Normally, folks search assist from professionals particularly in the event that they need to make it as good as doable. There are additionally those who take the chance and attempt to make no matter they’ll. If you wish to create a steel paintings, you should search sculptors or artisans since they know how you can make this.

For starters, you possibly can sketch your design on a bit of paper in order that the artisan will know how you can begin the challenge. Earlier than getting hands-on expertise, observe how the individual makes the paintings. You may need to hold out this too when the necessity arises. Extra so, ask questions with the intention to absolutely perceive what it prefers to make the paintings. Hear attentively to what he’ll train and let you know as a result of you’ll do a lot of the work. He’ll solely be there to the information you and proper the fallacious procedures that you’re doing.

After that crash course about steel paintings, you continue to need to prep your supplies. If you’ll use hearth, guarantee that the supply is already prepared to make use of. You could additionally be certain that the opposite supplies just like the metals, alloys and the likes are additionally inside arm’s attain. Devices reminiscent of tongs, scissors, and others are additionally vital as a result of it would spare your palms from an excessive amount of work and ache. It’s important to keep in mind that if the artisan doesn’t present your supplies, it’s your obligation to purchase and discover them. You may ask the assistance of others so that you can get the very best of the very best supplies on your paintings.

When you get every part ready, it’s now time to begin creating the paintings itself. Let the artisan begin it for you in order that it is possible for you to know what’s going to come subsequently. If you’re unsure, it’s all the time good to ask for assistance. Making an attempt to fake that you just already know what to do may find yourself solely in catastrophe. Accepting one’s flaws and shortcomings is, without doubt, one of the issues folks must follow. Not everybody can inform the opposite individual that he’s not educated about one thing.

Simply attempt to have enjoyable whereas making your very personal steel paintings. Regardless of the sore legs and arms, attempt to take into account that after you made this, you’ll really feel actually happy with your self. You could additionally be pleased about the artisan who helped you out in finishing this process. Certainly, that is an expertise price remembering so make each second depend. Don’t take into consideration what number of extra hours it’s important to make this or the cash you spent for the supplies. The newfound information and the paintings are two issues priceless. Nobody can put a price on this one-of-a-kind expertise that you just have undergone. Extra so, now you can inform your mates about this highway much less taken. That is one thing price cherishing ceaselessly.

If you are looking at a time alone, or time with your family and you have nothing to do, consider a hobby. One of the best hobbies try is arts and crafts. Not only is arts and crafts easy to start on, they are also fun. If you are not sure where to begin, read on for some tips to get going.

If you’ve got a family that loves face painting, try using a q-tip as your brush of choice. The cotton end of a q-tip makes for an excellent brush to paint on a face with. It’s soft and very controllable. You can create great looking cat whiskers and all sorts of funky designs!

If you are into arts and crafts projects, make sure that you set aside some materials for yourself before allowing your children to have free rein. Parents who love crafts are very likely to micromanage what their children do. This likelihood is reduced if you know you will be doing a project of your own later.

Find ways to share your crafting skill with others. Teaching your children how to join you in doing a craft is a great way to pass down your special skill. It is also a great way to spend time with your family and to make memories that will last a lifetime.

To get your kids ready for some fun watercolor time at the kitchen table, put down a layer of newspaper or a plastic tablecloth first. This protects your kitchen table and lets your kids’ creativity go wild, and you’re not stressing out about paint staining the table for years to come.

Do what you can to make a craft work with what you already have at home. This isn’t always possible, but you should try it. It’s usually not worth running to the store to obtain the perfect paper, detail, trim, etc. You can diminish your enthusiasm for the project when you have to break to run errands.

Don’t forget to take care of your face when doing arts and crafts. Have a pair of safety goggles and even a filter breathing mask available. You never know when you’ll hit a project step that involves things you don’t to inhale or have in your eyes. Always protect yourself.

Do not make the mistake of only looking in art supply stores for all of the materials you might need. Places like discount and factory closeout stores are great places to find materials at low prices. You may not be able to find everything you need, but you may find a lot of the basics there.

Try to find ways to include recycled items into your crafting skills. Quilters may use discarded clothing to make quilting squares. Painters may find old frames that can be restored. There is an entire world of items that are about to be discarded that can be recycled into a beautiful new work of art.

As stated above, if you are looking at the time on your hands and you need something to do, try a new hobby. Arts and crafts are simple to start, and you probably have all you need to start a project already at home. Use the tips you got here and start a new craft today.

Many of us would love to take on an arts and crafts project, for but for most people they have no idea where to begin. If you’re like most people and haven’t got a clue about neat arts and crafts projects, then you should take a look at the following tips. Keep reading for a good arts and crafts education.

Many types of things can be a craft project. For example, one of the most inexpensive items for crafting is paper goods. You can also use paper towel or toilet paper rolls. Even old newspapers or pictures from magazines are easy to get creative with. Remain creative with what you usually toss out by using it in your projects instead.

Create a location in your home where you share your family’s arts and crafts projects. Whether they are made at home or in school, these are things that should be cherished by everyone! So give them the proper location that allows for prime viewing. maybe a corner of your living room can be your project showcase area.

Keep an eye out for straight sticks while you are outdoors. Sticks make for some excellent arts and crafts materials. You can build a foundation with them. You can use them for flags. You can even whittle them down so that you can paint them unique colors. They make for fun supplies to get creative with.

You do not have to keep a craft forever. Crafts are generally 3-D and may quickly take over a ton of space. Everything a kid makes is not a masterpiece. You can say goodbye to really old projects when you make new projects with them. The value of a craft is in the making of it.

Ornamentea offers crafters the perfect place to find all of their jewelry making supplies. Ornamentea offers a wide range of colors in their leather cording at an affordable price. You will also find a wide selection of tutorials to help you take your jewelry making to the next level.

Save On Crafts is an online retailer offering a wide variety of crafting items at unbelievable prices. From ribbons and feathers to paper lanterns and Mason jars, you will find everything you need for your next crafting project. Although the items offered change often, this site offers such amazing prices that you need to visit them often to find the best deals.

A visit to a thrift can be a great way to get supplies for your craft. Many people donate supplies for craft projects that they have given up on, They may be in the form of a complete kit that was never opened or it may be a collection of items and tools that you can use.

After reading the above article, you are now aware of many interesting things one can create in the world of arts and crafts. Anybody can make something unique when they get a quality education in arts and crafts. Thankfully, these tips have educated you and shown just what can be accomplished when entering the arts and crafts universe.

Learning how to get better at arts and crafts is not a process that is ever complete. It is your passion if you enjoy this hobby, and there is always something to learn. So get started with the rest of this article so that you can find out what you can take to the craft table next.

If you’ve got a young one with small hands, try using a q-tip as a miniature paint brush. Big paint brushes can mean big messes with small children. A q-tip, on the other hand, is the perfect size for them. Plus the cotton end acts almost like a pencil to draw with. This is a really cheap but functional solution!

Make sure that any arts and crafts projects you do with children are age appropriate. If the children you are working with are of all different ages, you should break the project up into pieces and allow children to work on things that you feel are appropriate for their age group.

Keeping your arts and crafts supplies organized can lead to a more pleasant experience when working on projects. Invest in good storage boxes, organizers, and cases especially for smaller items. Supplies like beads and glitter can easily be spilled or lost. When you bring home new supplies, immediately transfer them into storage or organizational boxes.

Do some of your arts and crafts projects involve painting? Do you sometimes have difficulty painting straight lines? Masking tape can help with this problem. Stick the tape on the craft that you are painting and paint a little over the edge of the tape. When the paint has thoroughly dried, pull it off. Now, you will have a perfectly straight line!

To keep your painting hobby from taking over an entire room, consider purchasing a collapsible easel. That way, when you are done working on your masterpiece for the day, the easel goes right into the closet, along with your canvas. That leaves your bedroom free for the rest of the day.

Never recycle or throw away newspaper if arts and crafts are done in your home. Old newspaper is sometimes a craft material in itself for some projects. It is more often valuable as something to cover surfaces with. Thick newspapers spread out over a table give you a work area and protection for the table.

Do you need an easy way to store your ribbon? Grab a standing paper towel holder. Simply slip each roll of ribbon on your paper towel holder for an easy organization tool. The paper towel holder allows you to remove the ribbon you need with one hand. Simply cut the amount you need and place the paper towel holder back in its original location.

Finding out ways to help you with your passion of arts and crafts is always fun. You never know where your hobby is going to take you. The more you know, the better art your produce, and the more you can also share with others. It can be so much fun!